Typographical machine.



' H. A. ARMSTRONG. TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1913.

Patented June 23, 1914.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c,

H. A; ARMSTRONG.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1913.

1,101 ,383. Patented June 23, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. ARMSTRONG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERG-ENTI-IALER LINO'IYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY A. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typographical Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to typographical machines, such linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line together with spacers, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slugror linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices and spacers thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. More particularly, it relates to the means whereby the spacers are delivered to the assembler in the course of composition, and is designed to prevent their accumulation and clogging in the spacer magazine or chute, as will hereafter appear more fully from the detailed description thereof. 1

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to the spacer-releasing means of a linotype machine. Obviously, many changes and variations may be made therein, and in its mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. For instance, the improvements may be similarly applied to other forms of typographical machines, which handle type or dies instead of matrices, or they may be adapted to other forms of escapements, which control any kind of line elements, such as matrices, types and dies as well as spacers. Generally speaking, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any specific'form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a skeleton perspective view of the spacer-releasing mechanism, etc., having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a side view of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 12, 1913.

Patented June 23, 1914. Serial No. 778,668.

a portion thereof; Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the parts in different position; and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the line H of Fig. 3.

As in the Mergenthaler patent before mentioned, or as in the ordinary connnercial linotype machine, the matrices X and spacers Y are delivered one by one into the assembler A, between the yielding resistant A therein and the rotating star wheel B, whereby the line is advanced and compacted. The spacers Y are stored in the magazine 0 and descend therefrom through the chute C to the point of composition. The release of the spacer from the magazine is controlled by the key D, the power-operated keyboard mechanism D, the reed D and the lever E. The reciprocable escapement pawls F are carried by the pivoted frame F, engaging at F 2 with one end of the lever E, the connection F being preferably a loose one, such as a slot, to permit the movement of the lever E with reference thereto, in the event that for any reason the frame F is not permit-ted to descend.

Fig. 1 shows the parts in normal position, with the pawls F elevated and in front of the outermost spacer. When the key D is operated, the first effect is to lower the inner end of the lever E, whereby the frame F and pawls F are also lowered, to permit the pawls to engage beneath the ears of the outermost spacer, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of the lever E then moves upwardly, raising the frame F and pawls F to free the spacer, which descends through the chute C in front of the star wheel B. as shown in Fig. 3. The parts so far described are or may be of any desired form or construction. which in itself constitutes no part of my present invention.

In the use of these machines, it sometimes happens that the spacers are not delivered to the assembler with certainty, and consequently they stick or clog either in the magazine C or chute C, and particularly when the operator is unaware of the difficulty and continues to operate the key D. In such circumstances it becomes necessary to arrest the mechanism to clear the parts, involving not only inconvenience and loss of time, but also the liability to breakage of the thin spacers during their removal, and even the cutting of the operators fingers by their sharp edges. It is a principal purpose of my invention to obviate these difliculties, and to this end I have provided means whereby the release of a second spacer is prevented unless the previous one has passed into the line and the chute is therefore empty. To accomplish these results, I provide the rocking frame F with a depending arm or slide G, suitably gulded upon the stationary frame, and on the slide mount the pivoted trigger H, normally forced upward by the spring H, against the stop finger H Below the slide is located the stop arm J, pivot-ally connected to the stationary frame and urged inward by the spring J to bring the pin J 2 at its upper end into engagement with the trigger H. Also pivotally mounted on the framework, and preferably in the axis of the arm J, is the depending frame K, formed at its lower end with the feeler K, which projects into the chute C, in proximity to the two beveled edges C along which the ears of the spacer travel, as it leaves the chute and passes in front of the star wheel B.

The arrangement of the parts is such that as the star wheel moves the spacer forwardly, the latter engages the feeler K and rocks the frame K about its axis. The stop arm J is provided with the inwardly projecting pin K located in position to be engaged by the frame K, when the feeler is moved by the passage of the spacer from the chute, and thereby to swing the stop arm J about its axis. This loose connection also permits a certain amount of lost motion without affecting the arm J, and therefore allows the feeler K to rest against and guide the lower portion of the spacer, as it passes through the chute and before it has descended, to its full extent.

The operation of my improvements will now be clearly understood. The normal position of the parts is that indicated in Fig. 1, with the frame F elevated, the arm J in its outer position and with its pin J engaging the trigger H, and the feeler K in its innermost position in the chute C. Referring to Fig. 2, the frame F and slide Gr then descend and carry the trigger H out of engagement with the pin J whereupon the arm J is moved inwardly by the spring J until it contacts with the slide G. The frame F and slide G next ascend, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the arm J moves farther inwardly and its pin J 2 passes over the trigger H. This brings the upper end of the arm J beneath the slide G and thus prevents the downward movement of the frame F, and consequently the further actuation of the escapement, until the arm J be moved outwardly again to its normal position. This latter operation is effected, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, by the lateral movement of the released spacer, caused by the engagement of its ears with the bevels C thus swinging the guide K outwardly, and, through the engagement of the frame K" with the pin K moving the stop arm' J to its outer or inoperative position. In other words, if the spacer passes entirely through and clears the chute C, the escapement is unlocked by the outward movement of the arm J, and the trigger H moves upwardly,

and again engages the pin J as shown in Fig. 1. If, however, for any reason, the released spacer is held in the chute C, the feeler K is not moved, and consequently the arm J remains in its inward position and prevents the further actuation of the escapement, until the offending spacer be removed. Itrwill be seen that in this way I prevent the piling up or clogging of released spacers in the magazine or chute.

As previously stated, I have shown my invention only in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to a linotype machine, and obviously many modifications and alterations therein, andin its mode of application, will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, without departure from its scope.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a typographical machine, the combination of releasing devices. for line elements, the stop J to lock said devices against operation, the trigger H to hold said stop in inoperative position, means to trip the trigger H, and the feeler K to restore the stop to inoperative position. 7

2. In a typographical machine, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, the stop J to lock said devices against operation, the trigger H to hold said stop in inoperative posit-ion, the slide G to ac tuate the trigger H, and the feeler K to restore the stop to inoperative position.

3. In a typographical machine, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, a stop to lock said devices against operation, means to hold the stop in inoperatlve position and to permit it to move to operative position, and automatic means connected to the stop and controlled by a released line element to restore it to inoperative posit-ion.

4C. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, a stop to lock said (16"1065 against operation, and unlocking means connected to the stop, the said means being actuated by the delivery of a released element to the assembling mechanism.

5. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of releasing devices for line element-s, a stop to lock said devices against operation, and

means connected to the stop to move it to inoperative position, the'said'means being actuated by the delivery ofa'released element to the assembling mechanism.

6. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, means to lock said devices against operation, and means actuated by the delivery of a released element to the assembling mechanism to unlock said devices.

7'. In a typographical machine, the combination of releasing devices for line elements and means for locking said devices against operation and actuated by a released element to unlock said devices.

8. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, and means to lock said devices against operation and arranged to be moved to unlocking position by the delivery of a released ele ment to the assembling mechanism.

9. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, and means to prevent the further operation of said devices until a previously released element is delivered to the assembling mechanism.

10. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of releasing devices for line elements, and means to lock said devices against operation when an element is released and to unlock them when the released element is delivered to the assembling mechanism.

11. In a typographical machine comprising assembling mechanism, the combination of devices for releasing line elements, means controlled by the actuation of said devices to lock them against further operation, and means controlled by the delivery of a released element to the assembling mechanism to unlock said. devices.

12. In a linotype machine, the combination of the spacer magazine, the spacer escapement and actuating means therefor, the spacer chute, and means to lock the escapement against actuation until a released spacer has passed from the chute.

13. In a linotype machine, the combination of the spacer magazine, the spacer escapement and actuating means therefor, the spacer chute, a stop to lock the escapement against operation, and means to remove the stop when a released spacer passes from the chute.

14. In a linotype machine, the combination of the spacer magazine, the spacer es capement and actuating means therefor, the spacer chute C formed with the bevels C a stop to lock the escapement against operation, and means to remove the stop actuated by a released spacer passing along the bevels O 15. In a linotype machine, the combination of the spacer magazine C, the spacer escapement and actuating means therefor, the spacer chute C, the stop J to lock the escapement against action, and the feeler K to remove the stop when a released spacer passes from the chute.

In testimony whereof I have attixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. RocERs, DAVID S. KENNEDY.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentn.

Washington, D. G. 

